Stephanie Said:

I got a tattoo on the side of my hand. What are the chances of me being able to work as a Registered Nurse?

We Answered:

I have seen nurses with tattoos. In fact, last time I was in the ER (kidney stone, very painful) the nurse I got looked like a big burly biker with tattoos all over both his arms, shaved head, and skull jewelry. He was actually a very good nurse!

It's just a job. I'm sure it's not as easy a job as some people think. If you're good at it, it doesn't matter how you look.

Leslie Said:

Career advice: Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Tech or Registered Nurse?

We Answered:

Since I am a RN I will have to answer RN. Nuclear Med. is a good job also. I believe it is up to the individual to seek the type of school and employment. I love the adrenaline rush working in surgery offers.

Good Luck with your decision!

Toni Said:

Should i Continue to Be a Registered Nurse? Should i quit my current Nursing Job?

We Answered:

Give it some time first. Have at least a year on under your belt to put on your resume. Then find another job at another hospital or another unit. Be prepared to move. You'll be surprised the perks nurses get in different places. Be open minded and pace yourself. Always take some time for yourself to work out some of the stress..... even if your tired (20 mins) can work wonders. Good Luck with everything.

PS. As I'm sure you know, nurses are in demand, so don't get too worried about getting another job, even if you just graduated.

Clayton Said:

what career is right for me? please help? I just need you're option :)?

We Answered:

Medical Office Administration... Basically the front desk at the Doctors office.

Any career in the medical field is going to require at least up to College level Algebra. That is the same for about any degree.

Talk with the career counselor at the college your going to go to.

Melissa Said:

Questions about becoming an R.N. (Registered Nurse)?

We Answered:

-Overall job opportunities for registered nurses are expected to be excellent, but may vary by employment and geographic setting. Employment of RNs is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016 and, because the occupation is very large, many new jobs will result. In fact, registered nurses are projected to generate 587,000 new jobs, among the largest number of new jobs for any occupation. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of job openings will result from the need to replace experienced nurses who leave the occupation.

- The three major educational paths to registered nursing are a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program. Nurses most commonly enter the occupation by completing an associate degree or bachelor’s degree program. Individuals then must complete a national licensing examination in order to obtain a nursing license. Further training or education can qualify nurses to work in specialty areas, and may help improve advancement opportunities.
Education and training. There are three major educational paths to registered nursing—a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an associate degree in nursing (ADN), and a diploma. BSN programs, offered by colleges and universities, take about 4 years to complete. In 2006, 709 nursing programs offered degrees at the bachelor’s level. ADN programs, offered by community and junior colleges, take about 2 to 3 years to complete. About 850 RN programs granted associate degrees. Diploma programs, administered in hospitals, last about 3 years. Only about 70 programs offered diplomas. Generally, licensed graduates of any of the three types of educational programs qualify for entry-level positions.

Many RNs with an ADN or diploma later enter bachelor’s programs to prepare for a broader scope of nursing practice. Often, they can find an entry-level position and then take advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits to work toward a BSN by completing an RN-to-BSN program. In 2006, there were 629 RN-to-BSN programs in the United States. Accelerated master’s degree in nursing (MSN) programs also are available by combining 1 year of an accelerated BSN program with 2 years of graduate study. In 2006, there were 149 RN-to-MSN programs.

Accelerated BSN programs also are available for individuals who have a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field and who are interested in moving into nursing. In 2006, 197 of these programs were available. Accelerated BSN programs last 12 to 18 months and provide the fastest route to a BSN for individuals who already hold a degree. MSN programs also are available for individuals who hold a bachelor’s or higher degree in another field.

Individuals considering nursing should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of enrolling in a BSN or MSN program because, if they do, their advancement opportunities usually are broader. In fact, some career paths are open only to nurses with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. A bachelor’s degree often is necessary for administrative positions and is a prerequisite for admission to graduate nursing programs in research, consulting, and teaching, and all four advanced practice nursing specialties—clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners. Individuals who complete a bachelor’s receive more training in areas such as communication, leadership, and critical thinking, all of which are becoming more important as nursing care becomes more complex. Additionally, bachelor’s degree programs offer more clinical experience in nonhospital settings. Education beyond a bachelor’s degree can also help students looking to enter certain fields or increase advancement opportunities. In 2006, 448 nursing schools offered master’s degrees, 108 offered doctoral degrees, and 58 offered accelerated BSN-to-doctoral programs.

All four advanced practice nursing specialties require at least a master’s degree. Most programs include about 2 years of full-time study and require a BSN degree for entry; some programs require at least 1 to 2 years of clinical experience as an RN for admission. In 2006, there were 342 master’s and post-master’s programs offered for nurse practitioners, 230 master’s and post-master’s programs for clinical nurse specialists, 106 programs for nurse anesthetists, and 39 programs for nurse-midwives.

All nursing education programs include classroom instruction and supervised clinical experience in hospitals and other health care facilities. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and other behavioral sciences, and nursing. Coursework also includes the liberal arts for ADN and BSN students.

Supervised clinical experience is provided in hospital departments such as pediatrics, psychiatry, maternity, and surgery. A growing number of programs include clinical experience in nursing care facilities, public heal